Turning Data into Opportunity - A Case Study of WSAC’s Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign

Oct 15, 2026

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Turning Data into Opportunity presents a case study of the Washington Student Achievement Council’s Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign, focused on increasing FAFSA awareness and completion among Washington high school seniors. The report outlines an equity-centered strategy combining statewide coordination and local flexibility, including priority school microgrants, personalized governor-led communication, and expanded outreach through OtterBot. It tracks statewide progress, evaluates impact on completion rates, and documents key lessons and goals for the 2025-26 academic year.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages39

Reading Time1 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

Preface

Executive Summary

Introduction

Improving Economic Opportunities

Our Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign Strategies

Overall Progress toward Campaign Outcomes as of July 1, 2025

What We Accomplished Statewide during the Spring Campaign

What We Learned in the Spring Campaign

Our Goals for 2025-26 Academic Year

Our Plan for the 2025-26 Academic Year

Conclusion

Appendix A: Demonstrated Results of Spring 2025 Outreach Strategies

Appendix B: Lessons Learned during Spring 2025

End notes

Turning Data into Opportunity A Case Study of WSAC’s Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign By Natalie Alvarado and KC Deane Table of Contents Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................................3 Preface ........................................................................................................................................4 Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................5 Introduction .................................................................................................................................9 Improving Economic Opportunities ..............................................................................................9 Our Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign Strategies .................................................................... 12 Overall Progress toward Campaign Outcomes as of July 1, 2025 .................................................. 13 What We Accomplished Statewide during the Spring Campaign .................................................. 17 What We Learned in the Spring Campaign...................................................................................21 Our Goals for 2025-26 Academic Year ........................................................................................22 Our Plan for the 2025-26 Academic Year .....................................................................................22 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................25 Appendix A: Demonstrated Results of Spring 2025 Outreach Strategies .......................................26 Appendix B: Lessons Learned during Spring 2025 ........................................................................34 End notes ...................................................................................................................................39 Acknowledgements We would like to thank Isaac Kwakye and Sarah Weiss for supporting us in the development of this report. Additionally, sincere gratitude is owed to the College Access Initiatives (CAI) division for its outreach efforts during the Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign. Preface In early 2025, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) embarked on an ambitious spring outreach campaign intended to increase financial aid awareness and FAFSA filing rates among Washington’s high school seniors. This report describes the campaign’s strategies, tracks progress against the campaign’s goals, and shares other data on statewide FAFSA filing trends during the spring campaign. Executive Summary In Spring 2025, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) launched one of its most concentrated financial aid outreach campaigns yet. The goal: Raise Washington’s historically low Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates so more students could access the aid they deserve. With only three months left in the school year, WSAC mobilized a complex, equity-centered strategy grounded in urgency, partnerships, and data-driven outreach. Key Takeaway By combining statewide coordination with local flexibility, WSAC helped schools, families, and communities complete the FAFSA earlier and more effectively. These efforts ensured that more Washington students can turn the promise of postsecondary opportunity into reality. Context FAFSA completion is one of the strongest predictors of postsecondary enrollment. According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), 92% of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA proceed to attend college the fall immediately after graduation. In contrast, only 51% of those who do not complete the FAFSA do the same. 1 Washington state makes significant investments in programs like th

FAQs

What was the main goal of WSAC’s Spring 2025 Financial Aid Campaign?

To increase financial aid awareness and raise FAFSA completion rates among Washington high school seniors so more students could access postsecondary opportunities.

Which three core strategies did WSAC use during the campaign?

Priority Schools Outreach, Governor’s Personalized Communication, and Expanded Student and Parent Outreach through OtterBot and targeted campaigns.

What evidence of impact does the report highlight from the Spring 2025 campaign?

It reports measurable statewide gains in FAFSA completion, including an increase in the senior FAFSA completion rate by July compared with July 2024, alongside progress toward campaign outcomes and closing gaps across student groups.

Oct 15, 2026

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